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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd December 1848, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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      every man jrould get pikes that had no other arms w ^ mm tSttKS **\ . & mA ^ ewitnearS w ^^ SMSsaiat aptaassassf—«»—-J « i S ^ ? woM-eximinatioD , said he did not teport the whole of the speeches at the meetings ; to only took thow parts which were of an kflunmator ; character . . « 9 w £ . ? ' ? t 8 e 88 es ¦* " >*«* that M'Donougb . and White had on several occasions interposed to prevent mobs dsing violence to the noliee .

      « StffilSiS * * lotdsMp ¦*•""* ToMDiF , Dec . 19 . At the sitting of the conrt this momini John Cotfangham was examined by Mr Monk . He aUted teat he was a poliee-ofBcer , and was emplojed in Aprd last to attend Cbartiat meetings in pteS Cbtfae ? . and report their proeeedinga . Attended «» « f these mwfeap en the 8 th of May at the Hall of fc . Itmetibonthalf . pMi sevan o ' clock , John Murray ini the chair . The chairman Kaone other ¦

      « ung 3 om that the afiray which bad lately taken | fcee at Iamenck had been organised by the eovernmeat . Archdeacon spoke in the same strata , and « ad a letter from John Mitchel , together with a F odamatioafMmMr O'Brien pited that 4 0 * the walls , and a letter from the same gentleman relating to it . He recommended a union of the Repealers and Chartuts . M'Donongh a **? % ' ¦ f « » commended them to unite and ftf ! ? ^ ^ Eom 9 eaid w « 4 a'Me , 55 *^ 3 rt * - ""*^ lM 1 * - Hesaid the Irish had Mforfed their oolonra , and the English ahonld join aad 1 f » twa 8 « oo bt to reed their leaders to prison S i ^^ ^ " /" b ^ oento the timber « f 1 , 000 . 090 . Some of the otker defendants alio « pokeminfl » matory terms . Jaaes Shaw stated that he was in the detentive department of the policeat Manchester . W ™ at f h »

      S *** «**•*«» Edge . There were about 6 , 000 pom * there . About 250 came to the ground in military precession . The body left the ground in toe same way . A person of the name of Webber gave the word . Saw the policeman run from the -crowd . wS *™!? X * Granllan « » police-officer , deposed that he attended a meeting on the 18 th of August at the People Institute , when a person named Rtmsfien , not in custody , called the policemen fiends , and a set of cowards . He called upon them to arm and ¦ organise , and never mind what was said about secret * £ S ***•»•«• * " *¦* theprfioethenon the Platform ( sue of them ) there would not ba abone for eachof them . He added that Mr Beswickand toe pouce fiends were moat intimate acqnaintances ef fiu , and he loved them as the devil loved holy water . Tfie prisoner Cropper was in the chair of

      . John Price . —Was at a meeting at the People ' s In 1 ^ e on the ^ d Jaly . G « wSEife M'lfanaU addressed the meeting . He said the Horse ¦ Guards hid » committee Bitting In London to « m-Bidsr fiieir gneTances . He advised the people to i « n !?^ ta P ^ P ^ « th arms . There were 1500 or 700 persons present The defendant White stated that tha reporters were their greatest enemies . The defendant White cross-examined the witness to show that the reason he assigned for disliking the presence of reporters wasthsc they misrepresented the proceedings . The witness said he did not recollect this . White spoke a long time , and he ( witneES ) picked oat the worst he could find .

      James Abraham Ball ( who had been brought from gaol ) was next put in the witness box . Before being examined he was asked aa to hia belief in the New Testament . He eaid . na Mfisnft it Had been a -Socialist , bat had left them eighteen months . Was a fruit seller at Manchester . Had been four times in gaolfor neglecting his family and advocating the People ' s Charter . [ The Judge . —One is probably the cause of the other . ( Laogbter . fl-In March he came ont of gaol and went to Manchester , where he was waited on by four persons , Tootell , Foley , Spooner , snd Coffee , and they went to request the Mayor to allow a cart to be sent round the tewa to collect food for the distressed operatives . On the evening of the lit of April a committee meeting was held at his

      lather s home to raise money for agitating for the People ' s Charter . On the following day another meeting was held at Tinker ' s Gardens , attended by unemployed Irishmen . Several speeches were delivered , -and witeess himself spoke , taking for his BUDjeot a text from the New Testament , * L ? t him that hath no aword sell his garment and buy one . ' A meeting was teld on the 4 th at White ' s Temperance Hotel when -Chad wick was appointed pike-maker ; eoma discussion took place , and all who were present , including most of the defendants , said they were prepared for the lOthof ApriL Cm the 5 th of April , a meeting was held , at which Chadwick , Scholefield , Cropper , Nixon , and RsoMa were present , with others . They spoke about the National Guards and drilling men .

      snd several leaden were appointed . The leaden were to form dabs , and those clubs were to consist of ten men each , to be armed and drilled ready for action . Some gunpowder and caps were also purchaRed . On the 9 th of April a meeting was held at the Peo * pla ' s Institute , when it was stated , he believed by one of the defendants , that in the event of arising in London on the 10 th of April , they were to be up snd doing , and make preparations to callthe people of Manchester out ; Cropper moved a resolution to 'that effect , which was seconded by a man named Downey . The leaden were to call the men out if the rising took place , and form themselves in processic-a , so as to effect a junction with the other parties at Asbion and Oldham , aa it was said they were

      prepared . Cropper said they were ready at those placet . On the l § th a publio meeting was held , \ rhen . Chadwick took the chair ; and after that a -committee meeting was held , when Chadwick , . Nixon , and others , attended . The subject discussed there was aa to being ready for action . The ; had cot yet got information frosx London , and did not know what thBy were doing ; sad the Chutists it Manchester could not , consequently , do anything . A shop was taken in Tib Street , which had been tued for picking oakum , and Chadwick proposed that it should be fired . A man named Cearns suggested that a bottle of naphtha should be thrown in amongst tie oakum , and then some one ohonldtet firatoit . Chadwick thought that before they did

      so they should turn cfF the water from the waterworks and tha canal , and persons were appointed to ascertain how that could ha beet effected . On the llthof April another committee meeting was held , st which Rankin took the chair . Dr MDousI ) , West , White , Grocott , and , in fact , all the defend--ant ? , were present , with many others . They bad Ascertained the failure in London , and said it was foolish in them to attempt opposition to the autbo ritiei without destroying . property . Rankin said they were net strong enough unless they did so . M'Donongh propoted that there should be empty eellars taken in the neighbourhood ef High Street ; two at the corner of Turner Street , and me under 3 Ir Stephenson ' s ehoe-B&op in Market Street .

      leaders were appointed for the purpose of carrying oat those objects—thosa w&re M'Donocgb , Donovan , Lsach , Cropper , Chadwick , Scholefield , Nizon , and Others . The leaders were to place in each of the cellars one parcel of gunpowder containing one « wt ., one cask of naphtha containing thirty , aix gallons , and a cask ef turpentine . Shaving ? , mixed with straw , were to be placed next to the casks , and these were to be set adjoining the door , trill Eteeped with naphtha and turpentine , for the pur pose of being readily Ignited , and the places -fired . It was also agreed that an empty shop , formerly occupied by Dr Bally , phrenologist , ehonld be taken , adjoining the Gis Werks , Loner King Street ; it was to be taken nnder pretence of

      carrying on the provision trade . After getting possession of the shop , they were to bore nnder the ground . « o as to get to the Gas Works' yard , place 5 cwt . of gunpowder nnder the boring , blow up the Gas Works , and put the town in complete darkness . Several pertoES were appointed to superintend this , and Sl'Donongh was to act as their leader . A resolution vru agreed to on the motion of Cropper , seconded by Powney , that persons ahonld be appointed to sejrete themselves in the churches , and to be provided with implements to break apen the doors . Other persoBB , -connected with the clubs , were then to ba admitted , provided with naphtha to firs the churches . Leaders

      \ rere appointed for particular churches , as follows : — St George ' s Church , Schole&eld ; St Paul's , Chadwick ; St Anne ' s , Donovan ; St Mary ' s , Leach ; St -John ' * , Cropper . Fersans were also directed to let Off the the reservoir at Beswick , and also the canal , lecturers were appointed to go through the country to make tha plans known . Arohdaacon and Rinkin trent to Oldham , Cropper to Bradford ; Chadwitk , himself , and L ? ach to Ireland ; and Donovan to Birmingham . Witness went to several places in England and then to Ireland . He had seen MD > noagh trainmen , and there were drilling places appointed . The drilling generally took place at midsight He had alao seen Cropper and Rankin engaged -yn drilling .

      Cross-examined by Mr James . —He had own in gaol for neglecting his family , and was ones charged with stealing a cash-box , but acquitted ; the cashbox was subsequently found in his master ' s drawer . pad been s fool to himtelf and his family for advocating the dangerous and abominable principles of Chartism . Had attended teetotal meetings , but saver west there drunk or got turned oat for being -drank . Had beea a metsber of atemperanoe society , fait wis not so new . He first gave information about the proceedings at Manekester on the 1 st or 2 nd of Aoguit . He was committed to gaol daring the riots f ttMancheeter for fourtetn dsys . He had once set a ? aa a convert to Romanism . Before that he went to St Paul ' s Sunday School , Manchester . He was really a convert to Romanism , became , from what £ » hjd read , he thought , st &' time , tb > j hid tte

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      , ; ruth on their side , Wsb at present a member of the Church of Eoglapd , bat he was not ready for anjthing that might offer . Never was opposed by M'DdDonghon thVdoctriEea" of Romanism . Had never been a Socialist , hut w « r once sn Owenite , and became so wh ? n he first embraced the principles of CbartiBm in 1840 . " Did not thiflc there was a real Owenite in existence . Had lectored for the Chartist * . When ha embraced 0 wenism it was With a stifled conscience , becansa bs did not think there wm such a thing aa Orrenina . Hewas ahOwenitefor two years , and never stifled his conscieaee except daring that time . On one occasion during the Chartist conspiracy Chadwick proposed that the money collected for the purchase of pikes should be

      expended by the peoplein bread and cheese , and that coarse was adopted . The witness was questioned as to several speeches he had made of an inflammatory character , and admitted that he had on many occasions u » ed something akin to treasonable language . He was asked to identify the prisoners , but professed his inability to do so in consequence of a weakness of eyesight His lordship then ordered him to be placed within yard or two of the prisoners , in order that he might point them ont if he knew them . After a close examination , however , and making sundry mistakes as to the names and other material points , he succeeded in identifying only two of the prisoners , Rankin and M'Dononeh .

      In conseqneBoe of the extraordinary evidence the witnea had given , in connexion with his inability to identify tbe prisoners when called ap , a strong feelintf prevailed against him by those In the body of the court , and he was assailed with a shower of hiMes . This was immediately suppressed by his lerdship , who rebuked the offenden for their conduct , and threatened that if it were repeated he would order the conrt to be cleared . He added , with great warmth , Where is the man that hissed ? Let me see any man who defies the law ! I ait here alone , and with the whole mejesty of the kingdom oi England upon me ; nndlet me sea the man who dares to face it !' The Attorney General intimated that he ahonld not , after wh » t had taken place , rely upon the evidence o the witness Ball as to identity . Thjj closed the ease for ifaenrosecntion .

      Mr Jamrs then addreiged thejury on behalf of tha defendants Michael M Donough and Chadwick , and said that the former had attended the meetings without at all agreeing with those who spoke bo violently . He had on several occasione , as proved bv the police , assisted them when attacked by mobs . With regard to the young man Chadwick , who was only eighteen yean of age , he had been led away by tta vanity of speaking in publio , which he had acquired by lectpring at temperance meetings ; they wonld withdraw their plea , and plead guilty . The Attorney General here uaid , they had alwaya wished to plead guilty . '

      Mr A'kioson then addressed thejury on behalf of William Grocott and Thomas Rankin , and urged that the policeman who had reported the speeches of the defendants , being totally unaccustomed to reporting , raighfchave made mistakes , and have made one man say that whioh was in reality spoken by another . He urged them to consider the excitement whM EM existed , and bejjeed them not to weigh in eplden scale * that whioh took place in such excited times . The defendants Cwppsr , Donovan , West , White . Leach , and Nixon , then addresied the jury at great tajgtb , and explained the principles ef the Charter . They denied any participation in the illegal and notous proceediBgs charged against then , and professed themselvea advocates of peace and order .

      Chown Codbt . —( Before Mr Justice Erie . ) THE IJVBBP 3 OI , C 0 ITF 1 DERATK 3 . The prisonflrs charged with the conspiracy at Liverpool , O'DDnnell , Somers , Hopper , O'Brien , and Smythe , were brought up . when His lordship intimated that m he had ascertained it would bs mconTenient to send them to Lancaster pastle . he would alter their ( sentence , and order their im pmonment in Kiikdale . As regarded an applica-U . . *? ad wce » vedfrom one of the prisoners , that ivirktfale would be injnrious to his health , he intimated that the gaol at Preston was within the reenlatinm . —Smythe replied that Preston gaol was the same as Kirkdale , in respect to the silent system ; bnl his lordship said he had no option between those two .

      Wtonkedat , Dkc . 20 . —( Before Mr Baron Alderson ) Mr S . Austin was called on behalf of Grocott and Rankin . The witness deposed that he had attended all the meetings of the Chartists in April at the time the National Con 7 ention wa 3 sitting in London . ThoJndge—What is this National Convention ? There is no National Convention in England except the Parliament .

      Witness . —It wa 3 a body of Chartists so called . The Judge . —Those who seem to be so take on themselves a very great responsibility ; if government choose they csn prosecute them ; if such a body is tolerated we are on the verge of a revolution . The witness then referred to several speeches delivered by Grocott , Rankin , and others of the prisoners , in which they deprecated violent langusee . He gave the prisoners Grocott ' and Rankin a character for peaceab ' e and orderly conduct . In crossexamination he admitted that Leach and Donovan were sent from Manchester aa representatives to the Convention . In a speech mada by Cropper on one occasion , he advised the people to temperance until Frost , Jonef , and Williams should be liberated . The Judge . —Do you know what those people had dene ? Witness replied , that he believed they caused some rioti in Wales .

      The Jndre . —They were guilty of treason and riot , and something worse . Something like what Barabbas ( if yon ever heard of him ) was punished for . The people then called out that he should be spared , and so they do now ; ss that the world is much the same aB it always was Mr Besw'ck , Snoerinteadent of tha Manchester police , stated that Donovan on one occasion stopped a precession in Oldham at the risk of his life . Other witnesses were called to character , two of whom swore that Cropper did not attend the meeting at Blackstone Edge in June .

      The A ttorney General then replied . —He contended that the prisoners had been guilty of using itflammatory language , and exciting the people to tumult , and although they might in some cases have wed their endeavours to Enppress disturbances , gnch disturbance had resulted from their own outrageous and illegal acts . They had raised a phantom which they could not quell . There was evidently a general organisation to dirturb the peace of the country at the period which had b ; en alluded to , and the prisoners were acting in pursuance of such organisation .. He had withdrawn the witness Ball from the case after hearing the discrepancies in his evidence , though he did not disbelieve the general evidence which he gave , and it was very likely that some of the lower classes

      were so excited by the inflammatory langnoga used by the prisoners and others , that a pJot was going on in Manchester which must have beea fatal to the inhabitants and the propeity of the place . Under all the circumssances , he conceived that the principal charges alleged in the indictment were substantiated by the evidence of the poMce officers , and he should leave it to thejury to say whether or not the prisoners were guilty . He conclnded by expressing a hope that the prisoners would spare a few moments to consider the judicious observations whioh had fa'len from his lordship dnrkg some trials of a similar character at Chester ; that they would discontinue their violent and illegal agitation , and return to thoee

      peaceful avocations by which they wonld be more likely to benefit themselves as well i » the community generally . His lordship then summed up the evidence , observing that if the jury were satisfied all the prisoners conspired to do the same act , though cne joined at one time , and another at another , they were all guilty . He then reviewed the whole of the evidence ( except that of Ball ) , commenting on those points to which the attention of the jury was more particularly to be directed . Thejury retired , and after being absent about an hour returned , finding West and White guilty of unlawfully assembling , and the other prisoners of the unlawful assembling and conspiracy .

      THE SINI 1 NCES . His lordship then addreesed tbe prisoners . The < -fFsnce of which they had been found guilty was one which , he hop 3 d , wssnot now bo dangerous as at the time they committed it . Snob offences were generally rife when the people were distressedand unoccupied ; but when the distress ceased the agitation waged also , as it was found to be no longer beneficial . None of the prisoners , however , except Nixon , were in a distressed state , so that no such excuse could be urged in their favour . Two of them ( White and M'Donongh ) eeemed to hire acted in a praiseworthy manner , but it should be recollected that it was in consequence of their own act , whioh they ) were unwilling to follow ont to its consequences , that they

      were so called upon to interfere . In so doing they bad been attacked by ' . he people becasse they inter * preted their speeches as an exhortation to do what they did ; and when they were stopped they naturally became excited at what they conceived to be the fake ctnduct of their pretended leaders . It would be necessary to pass on them a severe sentence . Groeott , Cropper , and West hid no business in Manchester , where they made their ipeechei , and that was consequently an aggravation of their case . Rankin , Leecb , Grooott , Cropper , Donovan , West , and White mutt be imprisoned one year , and enter into sureties to keep the peace for two yean ; Leach , nine months' imprisonment ; M'Doneugh and Chadwick , « ix months '; and Nixon , four months '; all to find securities for their good behaviour lor one

      year . West applied for permission to be imprisoned in Lancaster Castle . His Lordship said that * under the present arrangements of that gaol , he could not make that order . White said , whea he wag formerly tried at War-

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      wiok , hi : lordship permitted him to be placed in the first class of £ j « iemeanonrs . He requested that the same might beidont pnthis oooswion , Ilia Lordship said , th 6 jirisorierEfshouId fo Bent to Kirkdaie Gaol , and treated as firotolass misdemeanants " . ' The following prisoners , also charged mth being concerned in the Chartist riots at ManoheBter and othsr places , were , then called up :-Geo . J . Clarke , JamesDowlan , PatrickDevelin ,. Henry Ellis , John James Finnigan , James tfoyle , Mark Hulme , Wm , Heap , Saul Cearns , Josiah Lemon , Themes Roberts , ueorge Rogers , George Ramsden , Joseph Spooner , Thomai Whittaker , William Burton , and Joseph Barker .

      The Attorney General said he proposed to call on all taege defendants to enter into their own recogniaauoea to appear when called upon . All the defendants agreed except Joseph Barker . His Lordship said he hoped'Barker would not be so fooluh as to refuse to plead ; a man who would not do bo must be filled up with a sort of morbid vanity ; what harm could it be for a man to give recognisances that he would behave himself ? Hia Lordship then addressed the defendants , say . ing , that if they conducted themselves peaceably and quietly , they would never be called at allbut

      upon ; , if guilty again of any offence , they would be liable to be called up for trial . He hoped they would in future conduct themselvsa as good and peaceable subjeotoof the Queen ; the Crown had shown a great deal of mercy m the course it had taken , and he hoped u would be fully appreciated by the body of people to which the prisoners belonged . He was glad to hearBincehe came down to Liverpool that better times were comicg , and there would be more employment . The more the people conducted themselves in a quiet and peaceable manner , the sooner would the work comeback .

      Mi Matthews intimated that Barker did not plead guilty . He was is a respectable station in life—a town-councillor d Leeds , and he felt that the charge was a reproach upon him . His Lordihip said there was no charge of guilt against Barker at present . Even if he were called up to plead , he could plead not guilty . Barker said it was impossible there could be any evidence agaimt him , and he considered hehad been injnred by gnoh a charge as that of conspiracy having gone forth publioly against him . The Judge . —You are like many men who imagine the public attend more to them than they really dolike the man who directed his letters to pesterity . ( Laughter . ) Barker said he had hia witnesses there , and he wished the trial to proceed .

      The Attorney General Intimated that he knew what his object was . He was editor of the People ' s Almanack . A man had been tried in the other court for blasphemy , and Barker knew it . The Attorney General , in reply to his Lordabip , said , he wished the trial postponed , bis only reason being that ha would have to go over the whole of the evidence again which had been before the Court . Barker still insisted on being tried , when The Attorney General intimated that he wonld enter a nolle prosegui . He oould not allow such blasphemous publications to go on . It was then intimated to the defendant that he was discharged from the indictment , and he left the deck . Several persons were then brought up and sentenced , and this terminated the business before Baron Aldersoni

      The whole of the trials will be brought to a oIobb to-night .

      Caows CoDBT .- ( Before Mr Justiae Erie . ) Charles Bowker , a man of genteel appearances was indicted for having at Hey wood , on the 13 . h of August last , uttered a Itke , soandalous , seditions , and blasphemous speech . From the evidence it appeared that on Sunday morning , the 13 th of August , the prisoner addressed a large meeting of Chartists in the marketplace at ; Hoy wood . After reading & hymn from a WeBleyan hymn-book , he proceeded to denounce all sects of religionists , and charged them with preaching blasphemy if they preached according to their Bibles and Prayer-books . ' If , ' said he , 'I had a blaok coat , a white handkerchief , and foe linen , I might have as wealthy a situation as any of them . I come here to do good aB C hrisfc did geod ,

      and why should we not ahed blood for the good of others ? I say , shed Wood , and do it effectually , and be determined . There ia Lord John Ruseell , Sir Robert Peel , the Duke of Wellington , and Lord Nelson—have they not shed blood , and why not we ? We cannot keep ourselves clean , or get a cup of tea , or a bit of bread , without being taxed ; and but for these taxes we need only work for three months in the year , and we could sail for the other nine montba on the lakes and see the beautiful Bcenery of nature , which God has ordained for u ? , snd be a happy people . ' Being cautioned by a police officer , he eaid he was preachicg the Gospel and Word of God , and he had as much right to do so as those blasphemous priests opposite ( pointing to the chapel ) . He then went on to say that , 'if God was pleased with the

      shedding of Christ ' s blosd , let them shed blood to redeem his people from under the oppressing hand of wicked men , such si Lord John Russell , Sir R . Peel , and all the rest of the aristocratio thieves and murderers . ' He added , ' I would wish to gain the rights of the people without the shedding of blood or destrojin ? of property ; but , if they cannot be gained without , let us at onoe nnanimously agree and assemble together to fight manfully for our rights and privileges ; to clear and destroy cur enemies and oppressors , and to take and devour everything ] before us ; this is the will of God concerning those who oppress his children . ' ] The defence was , that the speech had been greatly distorted by the mode in which it was taken down ; a police officer having attended acd furnished evidence of it .

      The priioner was found Guilty , and sentenced to two years' imprisonment .

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      l » exns dinllek fiiaf iife Manchester Road , near Bradtord . ana thatthe prisoner commanded a section of them . Mr Foster , for ' the defence , urged that there was no prool whatever that the words used were those of military art . : ¦ The jury found the prisoner Guilty , Mr i ) oster then briefly moved in arrest of judgment , On the Bame'grou ' nd ' a aa tho 3 e slated in the former demurrer ( the indictment being framed on the earns model . His Lordship said / the objections might be taken advantage of on writ of error .

      Divid Lightowler was charged with drilling at Tong Moor , near Bradford / on Sunday , the 28 ; h of May . Mr Orerend and Mr Manle appeared for the prosecution , and Mr Campbell Foster for the defence . A witness named Shepherd , formerly a CbartiBt , stated that he saw the prisoner , on the morning in question , march at tho head of a eeotion up Wakefield Road ; from Bradford , between ten and eleven o ' olock , to Tong Moor , three miles and a half from Bradford , where he saw him drilling his section , A police constable saw a number of persona going up the Wakefiald Road , at the time in question , butdidnot aeetbeorwoner .

      Mr Foster having addressed the jury for the prisoner , called witnesses for the defence , Beveral of whom stated that they had seen the prisoner that same morning in Bradford at twelve o ' olook , and some of them accompanied him to the meeting by a different road to that spoken of by the witness Shepherd . There appeared to be a doubt , how . ever , whether there had not been two meetings , and that both Bets of witnessea might be stating the truth . ' a . His lordship summed up , and the jury found the prisoner guilty . A number of similar charges against other prisoners , but of a li ghter character , the Hon . E . Phipps , the oounBel for the preBecution , would not press , He thought the ends of justice would be satisfied by their being diacharged on their own

      recognisance ; . His lordship then proceeded to pass sentence on tbe prisoners . He told them they might have erred from ignorance of the law ; that might have availed them as an exouse a good deal , bad the object of their drilling been innocent . Bat at that time there wasaBpiritof insubordination throughout the country approaching to rebellion , fomented by a number of foolish and wicked people . Had the objects they contemplated been carried out , this country would not be fit to live in . It would be better to . foe under an absolute despotism with peace and protection for property . IHb lordshin then sentenced the prisoner Hunt to be imprisoned 8 months , Jeffdrsnn 4 months , AEgua 10 months , Frith 11 months , and Liglnowler 9 months .

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      - * mp ^—~ TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND . Lbiter VIII . Feiiow Countrymen . —Some persons may imagine that the letter ofMrWm-Rand is net of that im . portance which I attach to it ; I think they mistake , The subjects proposed fcr consideration in ( hat letter are at all times important—they relate to the wellbeing of all classes , and are , at this period , of most vital interest , because tho question mooted therein

      now occupies the meBt anxious consideration of every statesman , and of all thinkers in the civilised portions of the globe—viz ., the profitable employment of all the people . 1 cannot , therefore , apologise for requiring your most serious asd unprejudiced consideration of the third and last remedy proposed by Mr Wm . Rand for the oure of our national calamities , viz ., ' Free Belling as , well as free buying , or Free Trade fully and fairly carried out ; ' by its Operation Mr , Wm . Rand believes industry will cease to be sacrificed to cheapness .

      Two questions present tbernaehea on ( he mention of this , proposition . First , —Why are we now debarred from 'free Belline ? ' Second , —By what means can we obtain that liberty f During the discuBsiocs of the Freo Trade measures in Parliament , it waB suggested that , possibly otber nations might be indiBpoaed freely to open their markets for our productions ; and it was recommended that , in such cases , we should refusa freely tp receive theirB . . Those very reasonable observations were then instantly Bilenced by Mr Cobden , who . assuming to answer for the whole world , assured

      ' tbe House , ' that no people would or could ba to foolish , bo insane , bo blind to their own interests as to refuse the free entrance of our productions ! He declared that the maxim , ' Buy at the cheapest market ' wbb univtraally received as common sense ; that it would be folly to doubt the wisdom of foreign nations , and our highest privilege to lead in this great scheme of universal progress , not doubting that other countries ( witnessing the . prosperity resulting to ourselves from tbe adoption of the free principle of trade ) would be anxious instantly to remove every barrier to their own advancement , and adopt a plan so full of promise to themselves .

      The wisdom of those who suggested that dbubt and precaution—the folly and ignorance of Mr Cebden , are now admitted by the gentleman who seoonded Mr Gobden ' s nomination at the last West Riding election . This ib a home thrust . The ignorant , self-opinionated , and conceited man ( who , by a per . version of the human intellect , most unhappily for this nation obtained a temporary but overwhelming influence , and who actually deluded the cleverest , the most cunning and experienced , nay , as some will Btill have it , ' the only safe' statesman . of this age ) has thus received a sharp , rebuke from a quarter least expected . Pity that such a man had the power to overrule the opinion of those bo muoh his superiors ! It is , however , eome alleviation of our sorrow that Mr Cobden is now told by Mr Wm . Rand that he haB caused to be' set up a god called Cheapness , and ever j thing in the shape of industry is to

      be sacrificed to it . ' It would be unjust to all parties not to remember and take especial note of the false prophecies of tbat man who , under the intoxicating influence ef greedineBB—of making baste to become rich—hurried the people and the Legislature of this country into the whirlpool of despair . Well , then , despite the positive assurances and the solemn pledges of Mr Cebden , some nations persist in refuBi pg to acceDt the prosperity and wealth with which Sir Robart Peel was so anxious to overwhelm them ! They will not permit wfreely to Bell our productions to them , although they right willingly send theirs to us . Of this conduct Mr William Rand complains . It is ' a one-sided Free Trade , ' which he insists upon being replaced by' Freo Trade , fully and fairly oarried out , free selling as well as free buying . '

      ' Mr William Rand knows that there are two parties whose consent must be obtained ere this proposal oan be effected ; ourselves and other nations . We have consented , but they refuse . Mr Ctbden ' a pledges on their befcalf can be no more accepted , By wbat means will Mr William Rand persuade or compel them to acquiesce ? There ia the rub ! Mr Cobden has already taken his continental tour—he has been feasted , flittered , and cajoled from one enu of Europe to the other—and , after all , the nations refuse freely to open their markets to onr productions . Who can Bucreed where the great necroman . cer has failed ? It would spem tbat persuasion and delusion have no force with our rivals . Shall we declare war , and thus strive to force them ? No , bo , Fays Mr Cobder , disarm and win them bv kindr . ess .

      And Mr Wm . Rand informs us it must be effected 1 by treaties with foreign powera . ' How they are to be induced to Bign those treaties Mr Wm . Rand does not Bay . nor can I . Were I diaposed , I might , with great fairneSB , leave the consideration of the proposed ' free selling ' until it were shown that it was a possible arrangement . I prefer , however , notwithstanding its apparent impossibility , to examine its merits . And first , aa to its operation on the agricultural interest ; for , despite the assurances to the contrary of Mr Cobden , Sir Robert Peel , and all the selfstyled philosophers , ' I Btill believe that agriculture is the right arm of England , and that those Btatesmen who dream of obtaining national prosperity by raising manufacture to an unnatural position over that of agriculture are very unwise , and very unsafe leaders of the people .

      It will be BeceBBttry , while considering Mr Wm . Rand ' s third remedy , to keep in mind some admitted facts , and also the cbjeota he hopes to gain thereby , viz : ' Our agricultural productions are not equal to the demand . ' ' Tho land of this country is capable under just cultivation , ola vastly increased produo tion . ' Tlia employmott of capital in branches of industry whoBe productions cannot be sold for more than they cost ia ruinous . '' Although the population of England is increasing , the population engaged in agriculture is decreasing . ' ' Real prosperity consists in fill boing profitably employed . ' And agriculture presents afield in whica to employ every idle labourei mtheoountry . '

      It is , then , self-evident , that any plan for the imptoveaent of the agricultural interest must be calculated to bring the productions of agriculture more nearly to the demand , by giving tho land of the country a juat BjBtem of cultivation , affording a profit on the capital therein employed , and enabling the cultivators of the soil to eecure real prosperity 5- ?^ S ptoy if ? ll te W 8 lry-idto dourer in the country . Heie Mr William Rand and myrelf are & £ r& € cit This , then , is the question to be solved-wlll' free selling ' enable the agriculturists to reap suoh reed

      quirbenefits ? , Perhaps I am prejudiced—may be , I am very Jgnorant .-. for , with all the . candour and intelligence of which I am mantor , I have sought in vain for jnoh markets aa can , by possMity , improve the condition of our agricultural population by 'free selling . ' I know no markets for their productions better than our own , ( and I think the measure advocated by Mr W . Rand will gradually reduce our home markets to a level with the rest of the world . ) If there are markets Tfher . 8 the free admission oi our agricultural produ ction * ieuld to adractiigeous to tbe capital and

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      labour employed in our fields , it is required of Mr . William Rand tp name them . If lie refuaes to oomply with this most reasonable request ; "ttion" the"fiiim ' and substance of his prescription for the agriculturists of jhisoountry may be thus stated : — 'Take baok from the manufacturing districts' your kidnapped peasantry . They are 'become burdensome tn . those who ni iced them froia their native fields . They are datigflrorJB when they Hook ¦ in vast numbers into the fcrge towns and villages of . our manufacturing districts . It ia found necessary to locate large bodies of tf . iops in these districts , in order to preserve the public peace , and put down outbreaks . Tbe very pafety of tfocioty , in the manufacturing districts , is in jeopardy ! Our werkhounea ara filled

      wnhthe deBtitute ii and ;<) ur gaols with the disaffected . 1 . housandg are out of woi'k ! The middle classeB , the shopkeeperi , and other tradeimen in the manufacturing districts , are , in addition to the almost entire absence of profits , absolutely-eaten up with poor rates and other local burdens . Take back your p < a tan try ! Build them cottages , spread them more uniformly over the oeuntry . tha . Uhey may live sear the fields they cultivate ! We require a largely in * creased amount of your produotiomB , an increaBtd home trade , and a muoh mure satisfactory state of feeling among the working olassea ! True , we have through the unadorned elcquence of onr leader , and the persuasive elcquence otyour ohampioB , crippled your resources , and let in a flood of competitors to eat up your profits ! ' Nay , we intend still farther to mulct your property , by removing from ouweWea to you , tbe annual payment ef eome two or three millions of pounds in psor rates ; still , we will not abate

      in our demand of a vaatly increased amount of your productions , and an increased home trade !' Without controversy , suoh is the manufacturers ' addreBB , through Mr Wm ; Rand , to the asrioultu . rists . How changed ! A few short years ago thoBe manufacturers were obtaining meane , by law , to remove the agricultural labourers f torn their native fislds into the distant mills ; they cared not than , if England should never grow another ear of corn . Then , they boasted of their prosperity and wealth , and threatened to buy up all the estates of the aristocraoy . Howdifferentnow ! How changed their tone ! But still how cruel ! Frem crippled means more is demanded ! As though the return of th » peasantry , the additional payment of two or three million pounds a year in poor rates by the landlords and farmers , with the boon of ' free selling , ' would oreate a capital to supply tbe required additional outlay , and alto secure a profit thereon .

      Such an unreasonable requirement is even more unjust than the cruel edict of the Egyptian tyrant : ' Ye snail no more give the people straw to make brick , as heretofore ; let them go and gather straw for themselves , and the tale of bricks which they did make heretofore , je shall lay [ upon them ye shall not diminish ought thereof , for they be idle !' It is required by common sense and common justice that some arrangement stall be introduced into Mr W . Rand ' s scheme that will ensure increase or profit on the productions of agriculture ; else his plan must baisbirtive , his expectations will be disappointed ; for it is impossible to employ labourers without capital —neither can capital be obtained without security , which cannot be given without profit . That profit , as it appears to me , oan niver . accrue under the

      operation of' free selling' in every market of the world . The required ingredient is better price *—tbat ingredient is omitted in Mr W . Rand ' s prescription . Does Mr W . Rand reply— Free selling will improve the demand for our manufactures , enable us to employ all our operatives at good wages , and thus provide an increased demand at higher prices for the productions of agriculture ?'—If ee , all may yet be well ! That branch of'free selling ' remains to be con * sidered , It sbltillbs examined in my sext .

      I am , Fellow-Countrymen , A friend to juat profits in all oar industrial branches , .. ' RlCHABD OiSTLBS . Fulham , Middlesex . ———

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      A VOICE FROM GERMANY . ( Extract from a letter from a German Democrat to a Friend in England . ) My . DbAB ——We have nsw the red monarchy In Germany , and it teaohes us a lesson we sbtll not easily forget , Pesple , who a few months ago were yet afraid of the red Ropub lie , are now wishing the proclamation of it most ardently , for they know that tho It .-d Ropublioans are no robber * , no incendiaries , no murderers , no violators , like tbo savage tools of our tyrants . But all the horrid misfortunes that b « ve befallen our unhappy country we have the German bourgeo ' u to thank for . The German bourgeois , who are infamous cowards » -Yvhocrlcgo before

      tyrants and murderers , —whose God Is their money-bag —who want no otber liberty than that of robbing the ppople . They hatod , and still hate , abselate monarchy , because it costs a deal of money , but they bad no oourage to attack end destroy it , and new their onl y hope and wish li , to share , peaceably ond quietly , the epoilB , tat en from the people , with the people ' s oppressors . But their hopes shall ba deceived ; the heroic proletarians , who have fought all the battles , have not lost courage , ( although they have been betraysd and beaten this time ) . On the contrary , they are now preparing for a last and decisive struggle , freed from the money . bagg , wfco bav& always betrayed and forsaken tnsm in the beat of tbe b&tilo , and whose real character they have Bt leBt recognised . Absolute monarchy and 2 a bourgeoisie will certalsly khare something , bat not the spoils tnken from the people ; no , they will share <¦ . Tho par .

      llamenta iu Frankfort , Vienna ( Kremsier ) , sad Berlin ( Brandenburg ) , are deopised by the people ; every one dearly sees that we have been betrayed by these stupid babblers . Tbe majorities In these parliaments were alwajs ready to assist out tyrants In suppressing the liberties ef the people , bnt they never had the courage openly to side with the people against tyranny , They sometimes showed signa of resiBtauoe , but they always soon showed tbe white feather again . Their doom is sealed , and history will judge their scto . John of Austria , who is more fit to be a' Tioar of Wskefleld , ' than a vicar of the German Empire , Is commonly called bj the people the had policeman c / the Qerman princes . This name la rather significant , If he were to travel through Germany now , as be hasj done bt fore , he would bear no more hurrsbs from the people ; on the contrary , hia ears would be assailed by rather unpleasant sounds .

      The struggle of 1848 in Germany has principall y been a struggle of la lourgeoUie against absolute monarchy , The G . raan bourgeois hare miserably failed in establlthlng their reign ; they h » ro been crashed , andserve taem ri # bt . Next year the proletariats will enter the arena against oppressors of every denomination , —they will , they must bo free ; bat whatever nay to the Ibsus of their struggle , they will at any rate win more honour than la lourg : oisie . Tell our English friends , the Chartists , tbat the German proletarians are sot vanquished ; that , on tbe contrary , they never had more hope of establishing the reign of justice in tbelr covintry than at the present time . Tbfcir red flag will soon bo triumphant . ' Freeddn ' s battle onoe btgun , Bequeathed by bleeding Biro to Eon , Tho' beffled oft , will yet be won . '

      we give cspiou * extracts frem the English newspapers in the German worklng-rotn ' a papers , especially from the letters of L'Ami nn Pedplh in lbs Nobtdibii Star , and from tbo infamous articles In tho Times and Cnao NictE , L'Ami du P * dpib does honour to bis country . His letters contain the plain truth , and nothing but the truth ; the prole'arians of all countries one him thanka for his energetic addresses to the people . Tha bloody and cruel articles & * alust our country In the Post , Standabd , and Hebild , ao not at all astonish ho . We know these papers represent the ( EDglloh ) arlstooracy and priesthood , and tbeae two olasssa havs been bloody , minded , Infamous , and cruel in nil ages and in all countries , —they have notelng learned and nothing forgotten ,

      wo oannot etyeot anything else from than . With the Times and Cqkonicle it is different , —their arUclts are very instructive . These two papers represent the great Eoglish meney-bags , nrv ] tbelr articles show ub , that this latter class Is even moro bloody-minded , more infs . raoUB , ond more cruel than tbe two former ; they b&ow us what we have to expect if la bourgeoisie should gain the upper band in our country , for the msney-bags , liko the priests and aristocrats , are sll alike , to whatever country they may belong : yeB , the articles of the Times and Chbomcib urge us on to ornsh that infamous ol » is whioh they repreeeat , before it gains snffiuUnt strength to eo that mischief in this country It haB done in yours , Cologne , December 6 . 1848 ,

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      The Palace of the French President . — The palaee of the Elyses Bourbon , where the President is to reside , was built in 1718 , and wasthen called the Hotel d'fivreux . Mme . de Pompadour purchased it from the Evreux family , and kept possesaion of it until her death , in 1004 . It then became the property of the " financier Banjon , who sold it in 1786 to Louis XVI . It next became tha property of the Republic , but was not turned to any use . Under the Empire Mutat purchased it ; and at the second restoration the state seized on it

      without paying attention to the claims of Murat ' s family . The lawwhich , after 1830 . fixed the civil list of Louis Philippe , had appropriated the Elysee Bourbon as the residence of Queen Araelie , in case she should survive her husband . The palace was the last place inhabited by Napoleon before he took his departure in 1815 ; it vm there he alighted in June 21 , after the battle of Waterloo ; and it was there he signed his abdication in favour of the King

      of Rome . The following were the votes given to Napoleon for the consulship for ten years , the consulship ( or life , and the Empire . For the consulshi p for ten years ( an . VIII . ) there were 3 , 011 , 007 for , and 1562 against ; for the consulship for life ( an 1 X 0 3 , 563 , 333 for , and 8374 against ;' and for the Empire ( 1804 ) , 3 , 521 , 675 for , and 2579 against . Nearly double those numbers have voted for , tho presidwtship of the Republic ,

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      ? IORK ASSIZES . Crown Court . —( Before Mr Justice Manle . ) Tuesday , Dsc . 19 . Henry Hunt , aged 28 , was indicted for having , on the 23 th of May last , at Hnrton , ia the West Riding , unlawfully trained and drilled a number of other persons to tha practice of military exeroiEO , movements , and evolutions . Mr O . Foster , on the part of the prisonerapplied

      , to bis lordship to Rive the prisoner leave to withdraw his plea of ' Not ; Guilty , ' in order to demur to the indictment . The learned counsel referred to the case of ' R . v . Furohas , ' 1 Car . and Mar ., on the authority of whioh he then proposed to demur orally His LordBhip having referred to tbe case cited assented to the application . The demurrer must be delivered in ferm afterwards , to make up the record . Mr Foster then proceeded to state the grounds of demurrer , and his lordship held that the objections raised could not prevail .

      Mr Foster then asked his lordship if he would give judgment of respondeas ouster ; it was within the discretion of the court eo to do ? Hh Lordship said he should not in thia case ; it was a misdemeanour . Isaap Jtffarson , aged 36 , waH indicted for drilling and being drilled and trained to the practice of military exercise , movements , and evolutions , at Dn zlington , in the WeBt Riding , on the 28 th of May , Mr Overend and Mr Maule appeared for the prosecution , and Mr Blanchard for the prisoner . It appeared from the evidence of Joseph Thompson , that on the 28 th of May , which was on a Sunday , the prisoner and a crowd of forty or fifty persons were being drilled at Driz'icgton . The men were standing two deep , and * .., the word of command they 'fell in , ' ' rightabout faced / and 1 marched . ' This evidence was supported by that of other witnesses , who saw the same

      drilling-Mr Blanchard having addressed the jury fer the defence , His Lordship summed up , and the jury found the prisoner Guilty . . William Angus was charged for having , on the 21 st of May last , nslawfally trained and drilled a number of persons assembled at Bradford to the use of arms and to the practice of military exercise , movements , and evolution !! . Mr Orerend and Mr Manle appeared for the prosesution , and Mr Hardy for the defence . William Charnley , police-officer , of Bradford , re raembered the 21 st of May ; it was a Sunday . He went to tbe Victoria Divan , at Horton , near Bradford , at five o ' cleck in the morning , and taw the prisoner at the bar with fifty or Bixty others marching in military order . Heard him cry , ' Right shoulders forward in this manner , ' and the men did so . He also said , ' Mark time , ' ' Halt / ' Dismiss / and they did bo .

      Joseph Bowles stated that on Sunday morning , the 2 lst of May , fee met fifty or sixty men two deep , armed with sticks , keeping step ; the prisoner was at the head of his men . Ho beard the priBoner giro the words' Right countermarch / ' Left countermarch , ' and' Close up / and the men with him aoted accordingly . He gave the word ' Slope arms / and they sloped sticks . Theprironer marked time , 'Right / ' Left / and then gave 'Quick march / and the Bien did it—CrosBTEXamined . —They made no secret of it ; it was quite public . —Re examined . —The men were then drilling day and night in Bradford , and there were attacks on the civil force . — Slingsby , a Bradford police officer , gave similar evidence . —Cross-examined . —There had been no drilling since . This was the cage for the prosecution : Mr Hardy having addressed the jury for the defence ,

      His Lordship rammed up , and thejury found the prisoner Guilty . Nathaniel Frith was indicted for being present at an unlawful meeting , for the purpose of drilling , at Horton , on the 25 th of May . Mr Overend and Mr Manle appeared for the prosecution , and Mr Campbell Foster for the defence . Witnesses were called who stated tbat on the morning in question several hundred Demons were

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      D ~» 23 , 1848 . THE N 0 HTB EtN STAR

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 23, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1502/page/7/